Window actuating mechanism



Oct. 26, 1965 RElNER 3,214,158

WINDOW ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J)? I w 12 I Q39 60 62 54 196;! I 25 2%31 M5 l dWL-i% 4% W 2 jg 3g 16 A/Er Ja ME? INVENTOR.

Oct, 26, 1965 K. REINER WINDOW ACTUATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1962 km m mil KEN/v5 n/ Hem/5 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent O 3,214,158 WINDOW ACTUATING MECHANISM Kenneth Reiner, 4811 Telegraph Road, Los Angeles, (Ialif. Filed Feb. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 173,291 13 Claims. (Cl. 268-417) This invention relates to force transmitting means of general utility, and more particularly to actuating linkages for panels such as casement windows or the like, which are pivoted along one edge rather than being adapted to slide in a plane. The present invention is adapted to be used in a wide variety of force transmitting applications. One particular useful application is in the operation of casement windows or similar panels, which are mounted for pivotal movement about a hinge. The illustrative example shown in the drawings and specifically described herein relates to the application of the invention to casement window constructions and the advantages in this adaptation are specifically mentioned herein, but it is not intended that the invention be so limited in view of the obvious various other possible usages and variations, some of which will be discussed hereinafter.

Heretofore, various types of actuating means applicable to casement windows have been constructed. One type employs a plurality of crank operated gears in combination with one or more rigid arm members swinging outwardly from the window sill to move the window ajar as the gears are turned. Such devices do not always include a means for automatically retarding the movement of the windows or for holding them at any desired open position, and very often, a strong wind will slam a window violently shut, sometimes twisting or bending the window frame or sash and, on occasion, breaking the glass.

Other window controls in the prior art depend upon a plurality of gears in combination with chains connected or linked to the movable window so that when the gears are manually operated by suitable cranking means, the window will be opened and closed. Such devices generally involve a number of precision machined parts, such as gears, along with their attendant bearings and bushings, thereby increasing the manufacturing costs and very often requiring the services of highly skilled workmen to install the devices in casement windows and to maintain them in satisfactory operating condition.

Other types of window operating mechanisms comprise a plurality of pulleys and cords to open and close the win- "dow, and have disadvantages in operation in that the cords bind and the pulleys become misaligned, causing the cords to break and very often to become separated from the pulleys.

The present invention provides extremely simple economical constructions for transmitting rotary or oscillating motion from an operating crank to either straight or curved linear motion of a driven member in such a manner as to provide positive force transmission and to resiliently retain the driven member in any position to which it is moved. This construction is particularly useful as casement window actuating means since the feature of resilience in the linkage gives relief from the danger of damage from excessive forces due to wind, gusts or the like.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide improved force transmitting means of simple, economical construction for converting rotary or oscillating motion to straight or curved linear motion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved actuating means for swinging casement windows.

Another object of the present invention is to provide mechanical actuating means for operating swinging casement windows or the like wherein a window can be re- Patented Oct. 26, 1965 strained in any desired position between fully opened or closed, or at the fully opened or closed position, without resorting to supplementary means for holding the window in a desired position.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical actuating means applicable to swinging casement windows and which does not require any gears, toothed wheels, or chains for transmitting forces to open and close such windows.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a casement window mechanical actuating means which is efiective when in an open position. to cushion the window against any jarring effect of wind or other forces applied to the window.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a casement window mechanical actuating means wherein the moving parts are protected from the weather, thereby substantially eliminating the possibilities of the working parts becoming clogged with dust or other foreign matter.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical linkage which is adapted to drive a load along either a straight or curved path and to resiliently retain the load in any position along the path.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious from the following description read in conjunction with appended claims and the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view showing one application of the present invention to a swinging casement window, and in which portions of the window frame have been removed to more clearly show the construction;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the casement window construction shown in FIGURE 1, drawn to a larger scale and with portions broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-section illustrating particularly the mode of attachment of the operating handle to the actuating linkage, being taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, with the window in closed position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a fragment of the actuating mechanism of the present invention. Portions have been sectioned away to show the construction more clearly; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the plate structure which is fitted to the lower sash as shown in FIGURE 3.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein a mechanical actuating linkage according to the present invention is shown as applied to a casement window. The casement window, as depicted in the drawings, comprises a rectangularly shaped glass panel 10 mounted in a sash designated generally by the reference numeral 12. The sash 12 is a strong and rigid assembly which grips the edges of the panel 10 and steadies the panel and holds it rigid so that no twisting of the assembly is permitted. The sash 12 includes a hinge member 14 extending along one vertical edge of the panel 10 and having a bottom sash member 16 welded to its lower end. The top edge of the panel 10 is bounded by a top strip 18 which. is joined to a similar strip 20 which bounds the vertical edge of the panel remote from the hinge member 14. The hinge member 14 has a base web 22 having side flanges 24 extending perpendicularly therefrom and integral therewith. The side flanges 24 have inwardly directed edge portions 26 extending perpendicularly from the side flanges 24 and which provide means for gripping flange strips 28 which are bonded along both sides of one vertical edge of the panel 10, extending the height of the panel 10, as shown.

The hinge member 14 is pivotally connected by means of a hinge 30 to the window frame 32. Thus it will be seen that the window sash 12 which supports the panel 10 is free to pivot relative to the stationary window frame 32.

On the inner surface of the frame 32 is a sill or beam designated generally by the numeral 34. The sill 34 extends along the bottom of the window opening and provides a jamb for the bottom sash member 16 to bear against when the window is in a closed position. The sill 34 extends on each side of the window opening to serve as a reinforcing member to strengthen the wall of which the frame 32 is a part. Furthermore, the sill 34 may serve as a supporting member for such adjacent windows as may be provided in the wall. The bottom sash member 16 has a downwardly extending flange 17 which contacts the outer surface of the frame 32 when the window is closed, thereby preventing the admission of any dust or foreign matter into the interior of the room. If desired, the flange 17 may be provided with weather stripping, not shown.

Bottom sash member 16 has a bore extending therethrough in a direction perpendicular to its length. A pair of counterbores 89, spaced apart from one another in a direction parallel to the bore 15, extend from the bottom of sash member 16 upwardly into communication with bore 15. A second pair of threaded counterbores 88a are provided for attachment of a roller assembly to be described hereinafter, and the bottom sash member is provided with a recess 91 for accommodating said roller assembly.

The sill 34 is of channel form and comprises a flat web 38 having downwardly extending side flanges 40. Side flanges 40 have apertures therein arranged to be aligned with the bore 15 in sash 16 when the easement window is in the closed position of FIGURES 1 and 3.

A guide member 36 is supported in the sill 34 extending through the apertures in the flanges 40; and through the bore 15 in the sash member 16, the guide member having a shank portion 37 which is fastened to the sill 34 by means of a clamp element which is generally designated by the reference numeral 42.

The clamp element 42 comprises an upper member 44 and a lower member 46 which are provided with aligned openings 48 to receive bolts 50 for bolting members 44 and 46 together and to the sill 34.

The upper member 44 and the lower member 46 are provided with complementary arcuately formed recesses to form a cylindrical clamp to grip the shank 37 on the guide member 36. The bolts 50 fit through the openings 48 and are threaded into the sill 34 to draw the upper member 44 and lower member 46 tightly together to grip the shank 37 and rigidly secure the guide members 36 to the sill 34.

The shank 37 is thus supported substantially perpendicular to the side flanges 40 and extends transversely across the web 38 and through the openings provided in the flanges 40. The guide member 36 is arcuately formed and has a remote, closed end 54. The arcuate form of the guide member 36 permits the window sash 12 to pivot outwardly on the hinge 30, in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The end 54 of the guide member 36 is provided with a closure insert 56 adapted to fit within the end of the guide member and is secured to the wall or frame 32 by means of a screw 58. Guide member 36 is supported so as to provide a circular are having the hinge 30 as its center whereby the bore 15 will register with the guide member, without binding, in all positions of the window.

Guide member 36 has a slot 60 extending from the shank 37 to the end 54, said slot preferably being in the bottom of the guide member. Within guide member 36 is a helical drive member 62 which is free to be rotated therein by a crank, designated generally by the numeral 64, which is connected to the drive member 62 by means of a shaft designated generally by the numeral 66.

The shaft 66 comprises a smaller extension 68 to which the end of helical drive member 62 is welded. Shaft 66 has an annular groove 70 on its outer surface. A set screw 7.2 is threaded through an opening in the shank l- 37 and protrudes inwardly into the groove 70 thereby preventing the shaft 66 from moving axially relative to the guide member 36 but permitting the shaft 66 and drive member 62 to rotate and to be adapted to impart axially directed forces and motion to any member in a position to be engaged by the drive member 62.

The end 78 of the shaft 66 has an opening therein which extends axially along the shaft 66 to accommodate the crank shaft 76. The crank shaft 76 is slotted to provide tongues 80 which slide into engagement with a pin 82 fitted transversely through the shaft 66 and at right angles to the axis of the shaft 66. A crank handle 74 having a crank knob 84 is mounted on the crank shaft 76, as shown. It should be noted that crank 64 is readily disconnectible by merely sliding it outwardly from shaft 66 to disengage tongues 80 from the pin 82.

Rotation of the helical drive member 62 is translated to linear motion (curvilinear motion in the illustrated example) by means of a roller assembly carried by the sash member 16. The roller assembly comprises a base plate 69 (see FIGURE 5) which is provided with holes 88. Bolts 71 are extended through holes 88 and threaded into counterbores 88a to secure the plate 69 in the recess 91 in the lower surface of the sash member 16, directly below the bore 15 in which the guide member 36 is secured.

On the upper surface of the plate 69 is an elongated integral raised bar 92 to which rollers 67 are bolted. The rollers 67 extend through counterbores 89 in sash member 16 and in alignment with slot 60 of guide member 36 and engage the drive member 62 so that when the shaft 66 is rotated by the crank 64, the rollers 67 will be advanced along slot 60 by helical drive member 62 and the window sash will pivot on the hinge 30.

While the mode of operation and the advantages of the present invention should be clearly understood from the drawings and the above specification, it is nevertheless considered desirable to describe the operation of the illustrated exemplary window-sash operating means. From the closed position shown in FIGURE 1, rotation of the crank 64 in a clockwise direction causes the helical drive member 62 to rotate similarly. Rollers 67 are engaged (through slot 60) with the helical drive member, and clockwise rotation of that member causes advancement of the plate 69 along the guide member 36. Since the plate 69 is firmly attached to the sash 16, such advancement of the plate causes the sash 16 and pane 10 to move about the hinge 30, in a pivotal movement to open the window. Conversely, of course, when crank 64 is rotated in the opposite direction, the window will be pivotally moved toward closed position.

By virtue of the spring nature of the helical drive member a spring cushion is provided against momentary excessive forces and the driven member is resiliently rather than fixedly held in a given position. Other advantages f the construction of the present invention reside in the fact that the actuating handle may be easily removed so that unauthorized operation of the driven device may be prevented; in the fact that the slot 60 is so positioned (at the bottom) that dirt, moisture, and debris cannot accumulate; and in that disassembly for cleaning, repair, etc. is extremely simple, since sash 12 can be disconnected from engagement with drive member 62 simply by removal of the bolts 71 and withdrawal of the plate 69 from the bottom of the sash member.

From the above it should be apparent that the present invention provides improved resilient means for translating rotary motion to linear or curvilinear motion and that constructions under this invention are economical, simple in construction and easily manufactured and assembled. The specific illustrated embodiment provides improved casement window operating means which do not involve the use of gears or pulleys and which are advantageous in providing resilient position retaining means for the windows whereby danger of casement distortion and window breakage are minimized.

As previously stated, the actuating linkage of the present invention is of general utility and may obviously be applied to driven members other than the window sash illustrated herein. Ot should also be obvious that the shape of the guide member may be either straight or curved along other than circularly arcuate paths. Moreover the drive engaging means may be other than the plate and roller assembly (69, 92, 67) since bar 92 could extend upwardly and be shaped to directly engage the drive member 62 to be driven thereby.

It is, therefore, to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited by the single exemplary embodiment specifically illustrated herein, but rather by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A mechanical actuating linkage comprising a hollow guide member, a loosely coiled hollow helical drive element, means mounting said drive element in said guide member for rotation therein, said mounting means restraining the ends of said drive element against longitudinal movement relative to said guide member, means attached to an end of said element to impart rotary motion thereto, a slot in said guide member extending longitudinally thereof, and a driven member mounted for motion along the length of said guide member, means on said driven member extending into said slot and extending radially into said hollow helical element and engaging at least one turn of said helical drive element whereby rotation of the helical drive element causes translation of said driven member along said guide member.

2. A mechanical actuating linkage according to claim 1, wherein the individual turns of said helical drive element are substantially spaced from one another whereby the linear motion imparted to said driven member of each rotation of said element is substantial.

3. A mechanical actuating linkage according to claim 2 further characterized in that said helical drive element is made of spring material whereby said driven element is resiliently retained in engagement therewith in any given position of adjustment.

4. A mechanical actuating linkage according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is curved and said helical drive element is resilient, whereby the resultant motion of said driven member is along a curved path.

5. A mechanical actuating linkage according to claim 1 further characterized in that the guide member is mounted substantially in a horizontal plane and said slot is in the underside of said guide member whereby the interior of the guide member is kept free of dirt and moisture.

6. A mechanical actuating linkage according to c aim 1 wherein said helical drive member is of hollow open configuration and comprises a thin bar of spring steel in helical form with individual coils thereof substantially spaced from next adjacent coils, whereby said means on the driven member can freely extend between the coils to be driven thereby.

7. In combination, a framework defining an opening, a panel mounted in said opening for pivotal movement about an axis from a closed position in which said panel abuts said framework to close said opening to open positions, said framework and said panel each having an aperture therethrough, said apertures being alignment in said closed position and being spaced from said axis; a hollow guide member fixedly supported on said framework and extending through the apertures in the panel and the framework, said guide member having a longitudinal slot, a he ical drive element rotatably mounted in said guide member, means attached to an end of said helical drive element to impart rotary motion thereto, and means attached to said panel adjacent to the aperture therein and extending through said slot into engagement with said helical drive member whereby rotary motion imparted to the drive member causes translation of said last mentioned means along side guide member and causes said panel to be moved pivotally about said axis.

3. The combination of claim '7, further characterized in that the longitudinal axis of said guide member is curved in the form of a circular arc, said circular are having its center coincident with the pivotal axis of the panel whereby opening movement of said panel relative to said framework occurs Without binding of the guide member with the aperture in the panel.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein said framework is a window frame and said panel is a window construction comprising a sash having a hinge portion and a bottom portion and a glass plate retained by the sash, and wherein the aperture in the panel is through said bottom portion of the sash.

10. The combination of claim 7, wherein said framework is a Window frame and said panel is a window, said window comprising sash and a plate of glass retained in said sash, said sash having one edge including a hinge attached to said window frame and a second edge perpendicular to said first edge adapted to abut said frame in the closed position of said window, the aperture in the panel being through said second edge of said sash.

11. The combination of claim 7, wherein said helical drive member comprises a coil spring with the adjacent turns thereof spaced from one another and wherein the means extending through said slot engages in a space between said adjacent spaced tiurns of said coil spring.

112. The combination of claim 11, further characterized in that said slot is on the under side of said guide member.

13. A mechanical actuating linkage comprising a hollow guide member, a hollow helical drive element rotatably mounted in said guide member in such a manner as to be restrained from moving longitudinally relative to said guide member, means for imparting rotary motion to said helical drive element, a slot in said guide member extending longitudinally thereof, a driven member externally of said guide member and mounted for motion along the length of said guide member, and means on said driven member extending into said slot and radially internally of said drive element and engaging at least one turn of said helical drive element, whereby rotation of the helical drive element causes translation of said driven member along said guide member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,645,673 10/27 Veeder 268 117 X 2,919,911 1/60 Furtah 268-433 X 2,936,646 5/60 Gould 268-408 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. JOSEPH D. BEIN, Examiner. 

1. A MECHANICAL ACTUATING LINKAGE COMPRISING A HOLLOW GUIDE MEMBER, A LOOSELY COILED HOLLOW HELICAL DRIVE ELEMENT, MEANS MOUNTING SAID DRIVE ELEMENT IN SAID GUIDE MEMBER FOR ROTATION THEREIN, SAID MOUNTING MEANS RESTRAINING THE ENDS OF SAID DRIVE ELEMENT AGAINST LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID GUIDE MEMBER, MEANS ATTACHED TO AN END OF SAID ELEMENT TO IMPART ROTARY MOTION THERETO, A SLOT IN SAID GUIDE MEMBER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, AND A DRIVEN MEMBER MOUNTED FOR MOTION ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID GUIDE MEMBER, MEANS ON SAID DRIVEN MEMBER EXTENDING INTO SAID SLOT AND EXTENDING RADIALLY INTO SAID HOLLOW HELICAL ELEMENT AND ENGAGING AT LEAST ONE TURN OF SAID HELICAL DRIVE ELEMENT WHEREBY ROTATION OF THE HELICAL DRIVE ELEMENT CAUSES TRANSLATION OF SAID DRIVEN MEMBER ALONG SAID GUIDE MEMBER. 